I’ve got a couple of albums by the ex-Jellyfish guitarist and they confuse the hell out of me. One of them is called “Author Unknown”, and the other is “Can You Still Feel” but has a track on it called “Author Unknown”. Slightly disappointingly, given Falkner’s background in one of the most innovating bunch of 60s throwbacks that the early 90s produced, that’s the most confusing thing about these two albums! If that sounds harsh I apologise… if I’d had a tongue-in-cheek smilie I would have used it… but the fact remains that these are two very straightforward records (of the highest quality nonetheless) that have more in common with the likes of Semisonic than Jellyfish.

This track is from “Author Unknown” (his debut solo album) which just about shades it as the better album of the two I have. It’s much more guitar-driven than Jellyfish naturally, and has some cracking tracks on it – “Don’t Show Me Heaven” and “Afraid Himself To Be” are definitely worth checking out as well. The whole album is, in fact, as is it’s successor. I’m waiting for a slightly cheaper copy of “I’m OK, You’re OK” to come available before seeing whether his good work has continued, it’s trading at the £25 mark right now which is a wee bit too high to tempt the readies out of my pocket.

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It’s hard to believe that Misplaced Childhood was released 23 years ago – two thirds of my life have passed with this in my music collection! – but it’s true. I love it as an album, although it signalled a change in the perception of the band as it shot them towards the top end of the singles chart with the ballads “Kayleigh” and “Lavender”. Marillion went from being a bunch of Genesis wannabes to a bunch of Kajagoogoo wannabes (I know, I’m exaggerating) overnight, and they were mocked equally for both of them!

In truth, after the first 12 minutes or so of the Misplaced Childhood album there was more to back up the first accusation than the second – but having those two singles right at the front end (after the introductory track “Pseudo Silk Kimono”) creates the impression of a very commercial record. The album then slips into this track and then the third single “Heart Of Lothian” closes out side one (the purists amongst us think of this album as having only two tracks, side one and side two, as they are effectively continuous pieces of music)

It’s amazing listening to this album just how a lot of it’s darker moments have the same vibe as it’s predecessor Fugazi. Take out the two big singles and those albums would sound fairly consistent, but as a whole they could hardly feel more different. Fugazi was definitely a grower for me – my first exposure was through Childhood and then Clutching At Straws before I worked back to Fugazi and Script For A Jester’s Tear, and I’ll admit to hating Fugazi on first listen – but it quickly became my all-time favourite Marillion album.

Misplaced Childhood is definitely a more complex album than it first appears though, and is well worth the ridiculously low price it’s available for nowadays. Go on, click the button.

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This blog is intended as a way to spread the word about music I really like, and encourage others to support artists who are making great music. "Try before you buy", if you like. If you hear something you like here, go and buy it - I'll post links to online shops where you can buy each track I blog about.

If you're reading this and you are the artist, or their record company, and you don't want a track I've posted to be available to hear in this way just email me and let me know - I will be more than happy to take the file down straight away. I've heard of other bloggers getting threatened with letters from lawyers, and there is absolutely no need to waste your money on that with me!